The Colour Cycle Season 5: StoryCasters TAKEOVER
StoryCasters is a project of Diversity Arts Australia and provides training and mentorship to young culturally diverse digital producers. Visit STORYCASTERS.NET for more.
The Colour Cycle Podcast is on all good listening platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor, Castbox, Castro, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Listen Notes, Overcast, Playerfm, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, PodChaser, RadioPublic, SimpleCast, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and TuneIn.
This season is supported by Multicultural NSW and Create NSW. Diversity Arts also receives core funding from Australia Council for the Arts. StoryCasters trainer/ mentors: Jennifer Macey, Phoenix Eye, Sweatshop Literacy Movement, Nicola Morton, Del Lumanta.
S5 Ep1 – Coming to Australia
On this compelling new season of DARTS’ Colour Cycle podcast, led by emerging young digital producers from the Storycasters project, our first episode features gripping stories on the ways overseas-born artists have adjusted to Australia’s arts and culture landscape.
Storycasters graduate Vir Kaula chats with talent from Newcastle-based arts company Octapod, including writer and comedian Elena Terol, painter Cristina Matas and actress and director Stephanie Rochet. The lively foursome share migrant perspectives on navigating a new creative sector, the importance of community and how their individual experiences have shaped their artwork.
Recorded and produced on the lands of the Cabrogal of the Darug nation, the Mulgoa of the Darug Nation and the lands of the Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua and Darkinyung peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
A production of Diversity Arts Australia.
Guests: Vir Kaula, Elena Terol, Cristina Matas and Stephanie Rochet
Interviewer: Vir Kaula
Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand
Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand
Regular Host and Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho
More information:
Music: Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci
Credits: Thank you to our major partner for this episode, Octapod.
S5 Ep2 – Living between cultures
Hear from dynamic women unpacking what it means to live a cross-cultural existence in Australia.
Live from Boundless Festival, StoryCasters podcaster Connie Khoo chats with acclaimed author Alice Pung about how she experiences intercultural relationships, her outstanding writing journey and more. Broadcaster and writer Tanya Ali also sits down with Yorta Yorta musician ALLARA about pride in her identity and making music during a global pandemic. Finally, we hear personal reflections from Storycasters graduates Hannah Lai and Alison Tanudisastro, who shine a light on what it means to be ‘third’ and ‘fourth’ culture kids.
This Colour Cycle season is a takeover by Diversity Arts’ StoryCasters, a collective of young culturally diverse content producers
Recorded and produced on the unceded lands of the Darug and Eora peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
A production of Diversity Arts Australia.
Guests: Alice Pung, ALLARA, Hannah Lai and Alison Tanudisastro
Interviewers: Connie Khoo, Alison Tanudisastro, Tanya Ali and Hannah Lai
Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand
Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand
Regular Host and Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho
More information:
Music: Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci; ALLARA
S5 Ep3 – Industry Pipelines
Live from the Fearless Curious event, award-winning journalist and media personality, Marc Fennell speaks with StoryCasters podcaster Sharon Masige about how industry pipelines can be transformed for greater equity. In an equally engaging conversation, Newcastle Art Gallery’s Zana Kobayashi sits down with Storycasters podcaster Vir Kaula to share her experience working in the region’s creative sector and the importance of community action, especially when cultivating change in rural NSW.
This Colour Cycle season is a takeover by Diversity Arts’ StoryCasters, a collective of young culturally diverse content producers.Recorded and produced on the unceded lands of the Cabrogal of the Darug nation, the Mulgoa of the Darug Nation and the lands of the Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua and Darkinyung peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
Recorded and produced on the unceded lands of the Cabrogal of the Darug nation, the Mulgoa of the Darug Nation and the lands of the Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua and Darkinyung peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
A production of Diversity Arts Australia.
Guests: Marc Fennell, Zana Kobayashi
Interviewers: Sharon Masige and Vir Kaula
Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand
Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand
Regular Host and Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho
More information:
Music: Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci
S5 Ep4 – Boundless: the joys and insights of literature
Can joy and insights flow from writing, literature, screenwriting and other forms of the craft? Our StoryCasters chat with an eclectic group of storytellers and share stories of their own.
StoryCaster producer Sharon Masige shares a reflective piece on her childhood love of books and the importance of finding representation, while Natesha Somasundaram, a playwright, screenwriter and actor, speaks with broadcaster Tanya Ali about navigating a changing arts space.
Live from Boundless Festival, Sharon chats with award-winning speculative fiction author Eugen Bacon, to talk about her writing process, how her African-Australian identity influences her work, and more. StoryCaster producer Vir Kaula also talks to ABC News journalist Ahmed Yussuf about the importance of creative hubs.
This Colour Cycle season is a takeover by Diversity Arts’ StoryCasters, a collective of young culturally diverse content producers.
Recorded and produced on the unceded lands of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the Caborgal of the Darug nation, the Mulgoa of the Darug nation and the Karuna peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
A production of Diversity Arts Australia.
Guests: Natesha Somasundaram, Tanya Ali, Eugen Bacon, Ahmed Yussuf
Interviewers: Hannah Lai, Sharon Masige and Vir Kaula
Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand
Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand
Regular Host and Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho
More information:
Music: Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci
S5 Ep5 – Making music in lockdown
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the arts sector, and the music industry in particular. Broadcaster and writer Tanya Ali speaks to three incredibly talented musicians about their work and how the pandemic challenged them to transform their creative processes.
Singer and songwriter GLO discusses the creation of her track “Transmute” during one of her state’s many lockdowns and the significance of the Black Lives Matter movement, while Māori artist A.GIRL talks about growing up in Western Sydney and how her childhood has influenced her music. Adelaide-based producer Strict Face also joins Tanya to tell us how the multitude of nightclub shutdowns affected his career and creative process.
This Colour Cycle season is a takeover by Diversity Arts’ StoryCasters, a collective of young culturally diverse content producers.
Recorded and produced on the unceded lands of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the Caborgal of the Darug nation, the Mulgoa of the Darug nation and the Karuna peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
A production of Diversity Arts Australia.
Guests: GLO, A.GIRL, Strict Face
Interviewer: Tanya Ali
Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand
Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand
Regular Host and Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho
More information:
Music: GLO, A.GIRL, Strict Face, Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci
S5 Ep6 – From Western Sydney to Newcastle: art making and producing
On this episode of DARTS’ StoryCasters-led Colour Cycle podcast, we partner up with Newcastle, NSW-based arts organisation, Octapod, to talk to five regional artists about working in the arts outside metropolitan areas. Western Sydney StoryCaster producer Vir Kaula hosts an important discussion about the strength of the local community and what it’s like being an artist in the Greater Newcastle region.
We’ll meet Octapod talents Indeah Clark and Tamahae Puha, the duo behind the Skux Az, an art collective focused on bringing dynamic and more ‘unconventional’ art into Maitland. Also, Jamie Bastoli, a multidisciplinary artist, discusses finding a supportive community, and Gunggandji photographer, DJ and visual artist Wanjun Carpenter speaks about the political power of art. Vir is also joined by actor and theatre maker Roger Ly, talking about the value of producing art for multicultural communities.
This Colour Cycle season is a takeover by Diversity Arts’ StoryCasters, a collective of young culturally diverse content producers.
Produced on the unceded lands of the Cabrogal and Mulgoa of the Darug nation and the lands of the Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua and Darkinyung peoples. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
A production of Diversity Arts Australia.
Guests: Skux Az (Indeah Clarke and Tamahae Puha), Wanjun Carpenter, Jamie Bastoli, Roger Ly
Interviewer: Vir Kaula
Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand
Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand
Regular Host and Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho
More information:
Music: Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci
Thank you to our major partner in this episode, Octapod.
S5 Ep7 – Communities of practice
How does it feel to be surrounded, supported, and inspired by community? We hear from Sarah Ayoub, a freelance journalist and author of young adult novels including The Yearbook Committee and The Cult of Romance, as well as StoryCaster graduates Annie Brockenhuus-Schack, Sarah Mendoza, and Hannah Lai, a group of passionate creatives exploring the significance of community and collaborative art.
This Colour Cycle season is a takeover by Diversity Arts’ StoryCasters, a collective of young culturally diverse content producers.
Produced on the unceded lands of the Darug and Eora nations. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
Guests: Sarah Ayoub, Annie Brockenhuus-Schack, Brieze (vox pop), Sarah Mendoza, and Hannah Lai.
Interviewer: Sarah Mendoza, Alison Tanudisastro, Sharon Masige
Research and presentation: Vir Kaula, Claire Cao, Sonia Mehrmand
Season 5 Host: Sonia Mehrmand
Regular Host and Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous
Producers: Sonia Mehrmand and Vir Kaula, with support from Claire Cao and Colin Ho
More information:
Music: Melvin Tu and Ali Saganci
Season 5 - List of episodes
The Colour Cycle Season 4: Esteemed UK and Australian artists share WHO ARE WE NOW? in this special season!
This podcast was produced on the unceded lands of the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin nation, and the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal Land.
As part of British Council’s UK/AUS Season, Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) is proud to present a new season of The Colour Cycle podcast spotlighting synergy between trailblazing female creatives in the UK and Australia!
Four insightful episodes—titled UK/AUS – This is Who We Are (Part One)—emphasise the experiences of women of colour and Indigenous women working in the arts and creative industries in the UK and Australia. The guests share cross-cultural knowledge, unpack the differences between regions, the notion of resilience, existing as women in artistic spaces and what they’ve learned throughout their careers.
Novelist and producer Sharmilla Beezmohun and filmmaker and broadcaster Pearl Tan (Pearly Productions)
This podcast is a collaboration with This Is Who We Are, a UK-Australian movement of intergenerational & intersectional women artists, producers and creatives of colour who are transforming sectors, thinking and spaces.Co-directors Melanie Abrahams (Director. Renaissance One), Paula Abood (Director of The Third Space), Lena Nahlous (Executive Director of Diversity Arts Australia and host of The Colour Cycle podcast), Nur Shkembi (Melbourne based curator, writer and scholar). Festival Curator Melanie Abrahams Project Manager: Sarah Dara. Producer Renaissance One.
Support Diversity Arts on Patreon to help us continue to deliver our Colour Cycle podcast series.
Listen to Season 4
Listen to all the episodes in Season 4: This is Who We Are – UK/AUS (Part One)
Season 4 - List of Episodes
The Colour Cycle Season 3 is here!
This new season of The Colour Cycle is centred around “Concrete Strategies for Racial Equity.” We cover a huge breadth of content: the impacts of Covid-19 on artists, global anti-racism movements such as Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate, the necessity of diversity standards, the power of Indigenous music in retaining language, and the importance of allyship and leadership networks. The season also features a series of conversations with UK creative industry thought-leaders, in partnership with British Council Australia. Featuring: Writer/ broadcaster Benjamin Law; Executive Director, Creative Diversity Network UK Deborah Williams; Noongar singer/songwriter Gina Williams; Head of Inclusion, British Film Institute Jennifer Smith; artist and refugee advocate Safdar Ahmed; writer/performer Moreblessing Maturure; Senior Manager, Aboriginal Strategy and Engagement at Create NSW Peter White; Asian Australian Alliance Founder Erin Chew; local media legend Sunil Badami + MORE.
The opening and closing track “You know What” was written by UK based musician Spider J. Heartfelt thanks to Arts and Cultural Exchange for providing us with a recording studio.
Support Diversity Arts on Patreon to help us continue to deliver our Colour Cycle podcast series.
Listen to Season 3
Listen to all the episodes in Season 3: Concrete Strategies for Racial Equity
Season 3 - List of episodes
The Colour Cycle podcast Season 2: Fair Play!
The Colour Cycle Podcast is packed with important ideas, strategies and insights from leading thinkers in the arts. If you’re committed to equity in the creative sectors, then you don’t want to miss this. This season features a special recording of Fair Play season live at the Diversity Arts Symposium, Wheeler Centre in Melbourne.
We’re sharing these thought-provoking and courageous conversations far and wide. Conversations and experiences from First Nations trail blazers Genevieve Grieves and Tony Briggs, international guests like Deborah Williams from the UK’s Creative Diversity Network, Disability leader, artist Caroline Bowditch, Aseel Tayah, Paula Abood, and many more.
Listen to the Season 2 trailer and The Fair Play Season 2 episodes kicking off with Episode 1: First Peoples First on our website below or on all good listening platforms.
Legendary hip-hop and soul artist MC Trey composed our title track.
Support Diversity Arts on Patreon to help us continue to deliver our Colour Cycle podcast series.
Season 2 - List of episodes
The Colour Cycle Season 1: A podcast to challenge cultural whitewashing
The Colour Cycle aims to disrupt cultural whitewashing and examines whether Australia’s Arts and Cultural sector looks like Australia. Join the conversation on your socials with #TheColourCycle.
Listen to a short Intro:
Listen to Season 1
Listen to all the episodes in Season 1: A podcast to challenge cultural whitewashing
Season 1 - List of episodes
“We want our podcast to open up the conversation about why our arts and screens don’t reflect Australia’s real cultural diversity. We’re also showcasing some brilliant artists and creative workers along the way.”
“Growing up without seeing yourself reflected back in your nation’s stories is a quietly dehumanising thing.”